Anxiety and Academic Achievement in Middle School Children

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This study adds to the literature regarding an area of research that is currently understudied regarding the relationship between anxiety and academic achievement among middle school students. Previous research has found significant, negative relationships between anxiety and academic achievement. The current study, conducted in a suburban middle school setting, surveyed 133 students using the BASC-2-SRP for children and adolescents. The results of the study found a significant proportion of middle school children meeting the criteria for anxiety at 21%. Interesting, the study found no significant relationship between anxiety and academic achievement. There were no optimal levels of anxiety that positively or negatively correlated to academic achievement. Anxiety and academic achievement levels differed only among the categorical variable of gender. The findings add to the literature regarding an important area of concern for parents, educators and students, and contributes important information to the research literature related to anxiety and academic achievement among middle school students.